Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Roanoke County Budget Work Session LIVE!!!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Education Optional
The approval of the state budget is at a critical juncture. Conferees are meeting to reconcile differences between the House and Senate budgets. Without a doubt, the Senate version is less damaging to Education.
If you haven't done so yet, please take about 73 seconds to send the conferees an email. They need to hear from people who care about Education.
Here are the two links (Send the letters accessed at each link). Personalize the letters if you have a few moments.
Senate
http://capwiz.com/nea/va/
House
http://capwiz.com/nea/va/
enjoy...make it real
thom
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Sting
The Sting
A lot of experienced teachers awoke this morning before the sun came to visit. They showered, poured a cup of coffee, opened their morning newspaper…
Teachers will likely feel sting of shortfall
Teachers over age 50 and those with fewer than three years of experience are likely to be most affected by budget cuts.
…and spilled their coffee all over themselves. Exactly a month too early for April Fools’ Day, teachers all over the area perked up and stared at the headline from Courtney Cutright’s front page article in The Roanoke Times in disbelief.
Although the headline was screaming at the top of its lungs this morning, the information within the article really didn’t surprise teachers and educators in
The revelation that teachers over age 50 are likely to be most affected by the cuts is a bit of hyperbole. We’ve known since the last school board meeting that the board is offering a new retirement deal for teachers over the age of 50 with at least ten years of experience. These teachers may choose to retire and accept $2500 for five years toward the county health insurance premium or they may choose a lump sum of $12,500 if they do not wish to receive health insurance from the county. Deadline to apply for this offer in writing is March 19. So, it’s not really true that those over 50 are likely to be most affected. Those educators will only be affected by their own choice.
Teachers with less than three years of experience, however, are certainly in line to be most affected by any reduction. Generally, the county will process all possible nonrenewals before dipping into the well to reduce continuing contract teachers. What that means is that teachers who do not have tenure will be let go first if positions need to be eliminated. The idea seems straight-forward as well as unavoidably tragic.
That being said, there is some murkiness in county policy regarding Reductions in Force (RCPS Policy 5.38) and elimination of teaching positions. The policy alludes to “Senority Lists” for continuing contract teachers, but there is no mention of what these lists are and when they are to be published or released to the teachers. For transparency-sake, these lists should be available to all teachers in a timely manner so that they can be prepared in case a reduction creeps into their category.
Non-tenured, non-continuing contract teachers have “no official standing.” This means that the county can dismiss them without cause given as long as the county follows The Code of Virginia § 22.1-305. Their contracts are simply not renewed. There is nothing in RCPS Policy 5.38 that addresses any particular order in non-renewing, no mention of any seniority considerations for non-tenured teachers. How such de-staffing is approached should be clearly defined and explained to any teachers potentially affected as soon as possible. Will the personnel department, utilizing defined categories, base nonrenewals on contractual hiring dates? Will de-staffing happen within each school base with the site administrator making the final determination on who is released? A clearly worded definition of procedural intent would be appropriate and welcome.
Courtney Cutright’s article is her best education piece to date. She took time to research carefully the financial side of the budget equation and delivered information and content that no media source has reported. Ms. Cutright relied on information gained through her Freedom of Information Act request. She mixes in timely reactions from the school board leaders in both
“Teachers will likely feel the sting of shortfall” is no surprise for educators in
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Join the Conversation
Join the Conversation
We live in challenging changing times. During my teaching career, we’ve gone from no computers in the classroom to classroom technology that seems to be sent to us from outer space.
The buzz for several years now has been “social networks.” It’s all about having a conversation with each other and sharing information rapidly. Over the past three years, since it opened itself up to the general public, Facebook has exploded with users. These days, if you want to find out something, you most likely can find it out on Facebook.
This document is a collection of social networking sites both on Facebook and on the more “old-fashioned” blogs (weblogs).
Facebook Groups
Lots of education groups are jumping into Facebook, including RCEA. You should be able to monitor these groups without a Facebook account, but if you wish to join the conversation, you will need a free account. Beware of what personal information you share.
Sponsored by VEA, this group is focused on discussing today’s budget crisis.
· Virginia Citizens in Favor of Saving K-12 Education
Begun in response to the education budget crisis, this group is a true grass roots, public offering.
Focused specifically on saving VRS, this group supports our brothers in fire-fighting, law enforcement, state employees, paramedics, and teachers in our battle to save our VRS.
Roanoke County Education Association
Hey, it’s easy to update this group with happenings in the RCEA. We try to get the word out about simple legislative action requests through this venue. Be sure to JOIN us!
Virginia Education Association
Your professional organization. Loads of information and a connection to educators all across the state.
National Education Association
Connect with teachers and educators from all over the country. The world just grew smaller.
You can keep abreast of the goings on in our school district.
Blogs
Blogs have been around since the mid-1990’s. They grew out of the old Listserv’s that were popular in the late 80’s and early 90’s. They are an excellent way to share specific content. The RCEA has used our blog instead of a newsletter this year.
Roanoke County Education Association
We try to keep our site updated several times a month. Our beat is the local school board meetings as well as how state education issues our professional environment.
http://www.rcs.k12.va.us/budget/default.shtml
Penny Hodge joined the blog bonanza last year with this excellent budget resource. This blog is true transparency at work.
http://www.veadailyreports.com/
Rob Jones and Doris Boitnott work hard for us in
http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/weatherjournal/
I leave you with a link to Kevin Myatt’s blog at Roanoke.com. Kevin is a true inspiration when it comes to weather. If more people would read Kevin’s blog, perhaps I’d get fewer questions about the weather.
Armed with your collection of social network sites, you can confidently join the conversation.
~Thom Ryder RCEA
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Live Blogging From the 2/23 RCPS School Board Meeting
6. Hearing of the Citizens: (Mostly Clearbrook Elementary parents spoke)
- Chuck Lionberger-PTA: Short announcement.
- Chris Rhea- Clearbrook parent speaking on budget cuts. Encouraged all of us to contact legislators regarding budget cuts. Thanked the school board. Wants to partner with the board on cuts. Does not believe that school closings are the answer. Thinks closing of Fort Lewis and Clearbrook will cause a tsunami. Should not close a quality school.
- Randy Kingery: From Clearbrook Civic League. Spoke in favor of keeping Clearbrook open. People who go to Clearbrook...stay in Clearbrook and serve the community. "It would break my heart if were closed or went by the wayside at all."
- Mike Wray: "These are budget times that try people's souls...." He told the board that his group wants to help the school board to find a way to keep the school open. Mike said that the growth in the area will keep the school at capacity. This school should not be closed.
- Fuzzy Minnix thanked the people from Clearbrook who came out to speak tonight. He's hopeful that there are ways to keep all our schools open. "Not just in my school district...anywhere in the county."
- Drew Barrineau: said that with the $7 million cut last year, people didn't feel it. If you want to help...write your delegates. Elections matter. This is important to us...the power of thousands. Exercise your God-given right to vote and share your thoughts.
- David Wymer: The Board is trying to make education workable. He appreciates citizen support. We are getting 66% support based on the composite index at the local level. The state people think it's easier to extract cuts at the local level than the state. "Now is the opportune time to contact legislators."
- Jerry Canada: "Went to Richmond last year and found that legislators are completely polarized. There are no moderates. If you go against the flow, the flow will get rid of you." He said that he had never been political from the pulpit, but he is willing to roll that dice now. No one knows how it will shake out next year. He doesn't want to close schools. He doesn't want to lay people off, yet people will probably be laid off.
- Mike Stovall: Talked about how polarized the climate is. The State Secretary of Education spoke to school board people last week and he talked about new initiatives and new programs that would take money away from public schools. He left after a cold reception.
8. Action Items:
- Change orders for current construction projects: WBHS, MPES, CSES, GVES. Approved. (Fort Lewis should be back w/cafe by early March.)
- Budget Reductions for 20010-2011: Penny Hodge$2.4 Million (contingency-$641K, Central Middle-495K, Reduce/eliminate Central office positions-317K, Bent Mtn-507K, Driver's ed/Health combine-178K, Close RE Cook-107K, Eliminate 50% subsidy of Nutrition fund-66K, Eliminate 4 bus routes-40K, Eliminate board funded field trips-24K, Eliminate Stanford 4th grade testing-17K, Eliminate 6th grade intramurals-9K)...no doubt more cuts will be forthcoming as the budget process continues.
9. Information Agenda
- Approval of Evaluation Forms: Submitted-no comment
- Update of Charter School Regulations- Cecil Snead. Due to movement in Governor's office and the Federal executive office. Lawyer Pat Lacey, clean up language in advance of any future regulations.
- Fuzzy Minnix: No problem with Governor wanting to experiment with Charter Schools...but he has a HUGE problem with this experimentation in these times! When this money takes away from public schools! "It does not make any sense to me."
- David Wymer: Regarding Governor's proposal...will the new bill presented to the assembly require a change in local policy. Lawyer Lacey says that it will require some changes. Wymer said that if Charters come into being, it's the beginning of leading us down a slippery slope.
- Mike Stovall: That's why the Secretary of Education didn't have a warm welcome. Charters will lead to resegregation of schools. (Comment: That's the second time I've heard similar language about charter schools. My other source for this said the Secretary of education's people used the term,"racially identifiable" schools.)
10. Superintendent's Report: None
11. Board Member's Reports: None
Meeting over around 8pm
Monday, February 22, 2010
Raise the Banner. Strike the Chord
So what does it all mean? So what's real?
Here's what's real. State support for public school education is about to take a nose-dive. Historically, Virginia already under-funds schools. With this new effort, we may even take the gold medal over Mississippi in the under-funding championship.
This weekend, our friends in Orange County, Virginia are spear-heading a "Rally In Richmond." Educators and our friends will meet at the bell tower in front of the capital building between 11am and Noon. It's time to stand up...even louder than we stood up in 2004. We can't sit quietly by the wayside and let our school children be robbed. We need to MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD.
Check back on this blog for more information or join our Facebook group, "Roanoke County Education Association."
It's time to make time.
thom
PS A longer, more personal version of this commentary and call to action exists on my private blog. If you'd like to read it, visit Swimming Upstream.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Another $731,000,000 Taken
Kaine Budget cut $1,200,000,000
McDonnell Suggests another $731,000,000 be cut as well.
$1,931,000,000 or More...
How many jobs is that? About 30,000 this year on top of the approximately 12,000 last year. If Norfolk and Southern laid-off that many people, politicians would be trumpeting job solutions.
On top of that, your VRS system is being changed. Thankfully, compassionate allowances are being made for vested members, but new VRS members (people who don't yet have five years contributing to the system), unfortunately and sadly, will have a less stable and weaker pension plan.
There is NOTHING good about this news, despite Governor McDonnell suggesting that localities will "... be innovative, ... be creative, and... find a way to manage better." If the Governor wanted localities to be creative, innovative, and manage better, he could have just asked instead of just axing.